justdontgiveame | Labyrinthum Inbox

The same thing I do for Alice, but with her it's bedtime stories.

[Loki said around a chuckle as he placed his mug aside for a moment. Taking the book, and a moment to read the beginning. This may've been mentioned in one of his classes long ago, on Midgard literature of importance. But there were so many, it had been a lot to keep track of on a very short term section as part of Midgard as a whole. This one was...European if he remembered. Around the 18th? 19th century? When they were re-conceptualizing their concepts of diseases and society at large was dealing with some troubling rapid advancements.

None of that mattered though, for what he planned.]

Come get comfy, my Puck. My Robin.

[Book open in one hand, Loki offered for Puck to come cuddle if the other wanted.]

Oh?

[Puck did what anyone who was getting ready to enjoy a story would do. Holding onto his tea and tugging the remainder of the first pack of honey cakes over to where they could both enjoy some if wanted, Puck made himself comfortable and cuddled, with a grin to Loki once he was in position.] Consider me comfortable.

[Loki shifted a bit, accommodating the other and making sure he was comfy himself. Then nuzzled Puck's hair and ear briefly, before he gave his attention to the book.]

The Prologue. Upon a paper attached to the Narrative which follows, Doctor Hesselius has written a rather elaborate note, which he accompanies with a reference to his Essay on the strange subject which the MS. illuminates.

This mysterious subject he treats, in that Essay, with his usual learning and acumen, and with remarkable directness and condensation. It will form but one volume of the series of that extraordinary man’s collected papers.

As I publish the case, in this volume, simply to interest the “laity,” I shall forestall the intelligent lady, who relates it, in nothing; and after due consideration, I have determined, therefore, to abstain from presenting any précis of the learned Doctor’s reasoning, or extract from his statement on a subject which he describes as “involving, not improbably, some of the profoundest arcana of our dual existence, and its intermediates.”

I was anxious on discovering this paper, to reopen the correspondence commenced by Doctor Hesselius, so many years before, with a person so clever and careful as his informant seems to have been. Much to my regret, however, I found that she had died in the interval.

She, probably, could have added little to the Narrative which she communicates in the following pages, with, so far as I can pronounce, such conscientious particularity.

[So Loki read in a steady and even pace, beginning to tell the tale. As he moved to Chapter 1, Puck would notice the illusion. The setting around them changed to match the story being told, with characters coming alive almost and details as if they were submerged in the story. None reacted to Loki or Puck, as they were not part of the story, but the illusion was bringing the tale to life.

Just as Loki did for Alice's bedtime stories.]

[As Loki began reading and the illusion came in to help carry everything, Puck temporarily forgot his tea until it was slightly cooled down. He was a good audience member as much as he was a good performer, and it wasn't the first time that food and drink would just be ignored while Puck enjoyed something else.

A book, some company, in this case- both. He occasionally looked to Loki as the other read, keeping an ear out in case the other's voice started to sound tired. More for appreciation of what was being done out of any kind of need, but the intent was still there. Remembering his tea after a little of chapter one, Puck finally had a drink and continued to focus as the story unfolded. At a lull, he spoke up-]

Have you read this before? You speak almost like you have. Or maybe that's the confidence coming through.

It's the confidence. I'm not familiar with this story, though perhaps I read it once long ago and don't quite remember. I did that with quite a few notable works from Midgard.

[The illusions paused as Loki spoke, giving his attention briefly to Puck with the question. Also to take advantage of the pause, and steal some affection in the form of a brief kiss.]

You're enjoying?

That does sound familiar, I'm sure I've forgotten some plays that I've actually seen.

[The kiss was unexpected, but not unwelcomed at all, and Puck returned it before he answered, cheeks a bit flushed.] Of course I am, being able to see things as much as hear about them helps as much as your very fine performance.

We studied Midgard and it's cultures growing up, and will occasionally update ourselves too. But it's a large and varied realm.

[Loki murmured, nuzzling Puck and then kissing him again briefly before he settled back in to read.]

You see why I do this with Alice too, although the stories are different.

[There's a pause, and then very softly and almost shyly, hesitantly.]

Frigga did the same with me, growing up. When Thor and I were young, and she was telling us all the old stories.

It is-- but it wouldn't be as fun if it weren't.

[Puck smiled at the extra kiss and adjusted his position slightly. When Loki shared that Frigga used to do the same, he looked at the other, the story temporarily forgotten. His tone was soft.] How good you are to continue that tradition.

"I don't know that I'd call Midgard 'fun', but perhaps it's because I've not had the right company before." Loki remarked absently, being sure to mark his place for when he'd resume reading.

"Frigga was a good mother. The kind of person you wanted to have believe in you. She encouraged my gifts, taught me. My relationship with Odin was...more difficult. But it wasn't so with Frigga." Clear to Puck also that Loki regret that he and Frigga had fought, when they'd last spoken. Whatever complications his relationships with his adopted parents had, he still loved her as his mother.

"Oh parts of it aren't fun at all, but some can be quite fun. Company does matter, yes." Puck agreed before he listened as Loki spoke again.

"She sounds like she was." He reached until he could touch one of Loki's hands and squeezed it gently.Regrets could be like that, and that was something Puck understood. "I'm glad you had each other."

Loki turned more, so he could hide against Puck's hair somewhat. Moving to squeeze Puck's hand in turn, and low voiced. "A moment, if you will. Before I continue." Easy enough for the fae to recognize Loki still held a lot of pain and un-dealt with feelings regarding Frigga, and about her.

But it was not a time for sadness--and Loki would pull himself together shortly. He was trying to be more...open, as well. To let himself be vulnerable, at least around Puck.

Puck nodded gently. "Of course. As much as you need." It might not have been a time for sadness, but Puck had meant what he said in supporting Loki in all aspects. He would appreciate Loki's vulnerability by not encouraging him to hurry through it.

So for the time being, Puck focused on his breathing, being more present for Loki himself instead of the story time they were sharing. The book wasn't going anywhere.

Edited (typo fixing) 2024-09-03 23:55 (UTC)

The barest of nods in acknowledgement and thanks, as Loki breathed. Holding Puck's hand, letting the fae anchor him. No tears, no hitches of breath, but a definite tension in Loki for several moments.

Before a deep breath in, and out, a squeeze of the other's hand, and a kiss against his hair. All ways of saying thank you, and that Loki was alright again. Even smiling softly, was he shifted to get comfortable around Puck once more to continue the story with the illusions still paused.

"Now, where were we?"

Puck smiled back as Loki signaled he was ready to continue, and rested against him. Some tea was had before he answered.

"I think I was enjoying your storytelling while trying to hide how much the atmosphere of it was getting to me." Puck answered, only slightly joking. Really, the story's atmosphere was effective; but that made it more fun.

"Ah, I see your ploy now. Though if you wanted me to curl you close and hold you, you don't need an elaborate play with a book to get that, my Puck."

Loki teased with a soft chuckle. Certain they were both comfy, he resumed where they'd been in Chapter 1 with a strong and steady voice. The characters spoke as the illusion played out, different voices. Acted, moved--like watching a full and proper 3-D film that was immersive around the pair.

"Oh no, here I thought I was being clever." Puck said in mock surprise as he brought his free hand up to his chest to try to sell the shock.

As the story continued though, Puck felt himself getting lost in both the mix of it and Loki's storytelling skills. He tensed slightly as plot points started to be set up; sure they were going to pay off later in the story. Ever a good audience member.

Loki adjusted himself as needed so that Puck could be comfy and close. They'd gotten a bit further, as Loki read well into chapter two now.

"We heard their voices gabbling in animated dialogue as we approached. We joined them at the drawbridge, and turned about to admire with them the beautiful scene.

The glade through which we had just walked lay before us. At our left the narrow road wound away under clumps of lordly trees, and was lost to sight amid the thickening forest. At the right the same road crosses the steep and picturesque bridge, near which stands a ruined tower which once guarded that pass; and beyond the bridge an abrupt eminence rises, covered with trees, and showing in the shadows some grey ivy-clustered rocks.

Over the sward and low grounds a thin film of mist was stealing like smoke, marking the distances with a transparent veil; and here and there we could see the river faintly flashing in the moonlight."

So the surroundings went dark but for the moon, though Loki kept the pages illuminated for reading. The mist stole in just as in the story, obscuring the characters and their surroundings.

" “I have got into one of my moping moods tonight,” said my father, after a silence, and quoting Shakespeare, whom, by way of keeping up our English, he used to read aloud, he said:

“‘In truth I know not why I am so sad.
It wearies me: you say it wearies you;
But how I got it—came by it.’

“I forget the rest. But I feel as if some great misfortune were hanging over us. I suppose the poor General’s afflicted letter has had something to do with it.”

At this moment the unwonted sound of carriage wheels and many hoofs upon the road, arrested our attention."

The illusion was quite immersive and complete, such that the sound of wooden and metal wheels and hoofbeats upon dirt sounded loud compared to Loki's voice.

As things were described and the room kept providing a stage for everything, Puck grinned quickly at the Shakespeare reference. "The Merchant of Venice." he remarked, amused. "Maybe the father was trying to keep things lighthearted."

The sound effects came in and if Puck were any closer to Loki, he could be mistaken for a tunic that Loki was wearing. Usually horror didn't bother Puck to the degree that it was currently, but everything was working in tandem into a very affective setup.

Not to say Puck wasn't enjoying himself, he was, very much so. But the creepiness of everything was also winning out nicely. It was an interesting contrast of emotions.

Loki had noticed how close Puck was, considering the other was all but glued and on top of him. He let out a small chuckle, pausing in his reading as the illusions paused once more. "Too much? I really don't mind you being this close, but there are far more pleasant ways to achieve it than because of fear." Teasing gently.

"A little, but I'm also enjoying it. There are worse things to be caught between, I'm sure." But Puck's answer came out a little shakily. He could see the humor as much as Loki did, and laughed at himself as his cheeks colored again.

"A compliment to your skills, if anything, I'd say."

"I had meant to come here to help relax you though, and I doubt this is relaxing." Blue-green eyes dared Puck to lie, and claim he wasn't tense. "Should I keep going, or perhaps a break and another time?"

Puck met Loki's eyes, saw that unspoken dare, and considered it for a second before he just pushed back. A challenge? Easy. "You're wrong for doubting- just because I'm pressed against you like this doesn't mean I'm tense. Far from it."

"You're the one telling this, what do you want to do?"

"I think--" Loki started to speak, while vanishing the book in a shimmer of green. Smirking somewhat too, as nimble and quick fingers moved to find Puck's sides. Seeking out ticklish spots. "that you're provoking me and I want to prove I'm right."

If Loki had been misdirecting by putting the book away via magic, it worked. Puck was caught off guard and began to laugh, but quickly tried to dodge Loki's hands. "You practically encouraged-" He got out before more laughter won out. Catching his breath, Puck finished that thought.

"You practically encouraged me!"

Unfortunately for the fae, with as close as he was on top of Loki it meant that there was no easy escape. And Loki was merciless, as fingers danced along Puck's ribs, his belly, the inside of his arms. Anywhere he could get to that would make the other laugh.

"I see, blame it on me. You know I'm a bad influence."

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